Scottish Independence – Facts and Debate

Scotland, which was first founded as an independent country in the early middle ages, joined with England and Wales to create the United Kingdom (UK) in 1707. The country still retained its own national identity, however, and in recent year there has been a sustained campaign from Scottish nationalists to dissolve the Union, allowing Scotland to become an independent country once more. In 1997 the Labour government of the UK took the first step down this road by offering ‘devolution‘ to Scotland, as well as Wales (but not England). Under this system a range of powers were transferred from the UK parliament in London to a new parliament in Edinburgh. The Scottish National Party (SNP) won a majority in this parliament at the last election on a platform which called for a referendum on full independence. In mid-October 2012 SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond signed an agreement with UK Prime Minister David Cameron for this referendum to be held in Autumn 2014.

The Facts Which Frame the Debate -What Would An Independent Scotland Look Like?

An independent Scotland would its connection with the British Monarchy under SNP leadership, meaning that Queen Elizabeth would remain the head of state.

An independent Scotland would retain the Pound Sterling as its currency, unless the country decided in a subsequent vote to join the Euro.

Despite its current membership of the EU as part of the UK, an independent Scotland would have to reapply for membership as a newly independent country. Although it is likely that this application would be accepted, it is not guaranteed. The SNP have also said that they would apply for membership of Nato.

The SNP have said that they would create their own independent military, but would have no nuclear weapons on Scottish soil. Some defense capabilities which the SNP would like the country to have would require cooperation with the UK, and it is uncertain whether such cooperation would be offered.

The people of Scotland have much more socialist political leanings than the rest of the United Kingdom, so independence would allow for the implementation of more socialist policies.

There is considerable uncertainty over the future of shared cultural institutions. For example, Scotland would no longer be covered by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC)

The SNP believes that they would have the rights to 90% of North Sea oil tax revenues which currently goes to the UK government, however this would have to be negotiated between the two countries after the referendum.

The Economics of Scottish Independence

The economics of separation play a big part in the debate, and it is very difficult to say with any certainty whether Scotland would be better of worse off as a result of separation. Currently Scotland takes a bigger share of UK government spending that England or Wales, and government spending exceeds tax receipts. This does not include oil revenues, however, which the SNP claims would more than cover the difference. Critics claim that these oil revenues will dry up over the next decade or so, leaving the country significantly worse off. Here is a nice infographic comparing spending, tax receipts and oil revenues in recent years:

The grey bars show spending. The Red line shows tax receipts excluding oil revenue. The Blue lines shows tax receipts including oil revenues from the estimated geographical share that Scotland would take.

A Summary of Pro-Independence Campaign

The pro-Independence campaign is called ‘Yes Scotland’ and uses the #yesscott hashtag. Here is a selection websites, blog and social media posts, and videos from the Yes campaign:

[<a href="http://storify.com/TheDailySatire/scottish-independence" target="_blank">View the story "Yes to Scottish Independence" on Storify</a>] <br /> <h1>Yes to Scottish Independence</h1> <p> <br /> <h2>A summary / digest featuring a selection of highlights from the ‘Yes Scotland’ campaign for a yes vote in the referendum on Scottish independence, from blogs, websites and social media.</h2> <p> Storified by The Daily Satire · Sun, Nov 04 2012 09:40:01 <div>Yes ScotlandSign the Yes Declaration and be part of building a new, and better nation. Together, we can make history.</div> <div>Labour reckons we can’t afford "free" education, prescriptions, eye tests et al, but nuclear weapons at £Bns is ok… #indyref #LamontableEck of Neill</div> <div>On 4th July Americans will be mourning their independence as they remember they were #bettertogetherDan Paris</div> <div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/YesDundee2014" class="">Yes Dundee</a></div> <div>Margo MacDonald just called me to tell me her new name for Better Together; she’s going to call them the ‘abominable "no" men’. Genius.David Torrance</div> <div>Cautious Kitteh isn’t sure if it is good or bad! #IndyRef #YesScotmcvtv1</div> <div>Greens join Yes Scotland campaignThe Scottish Greens have formally voted to participate in the cross-party Yes Scotland campaign for independence. Delegates backed the mo…</div> <div>Latest Unionist scare story. Salmond will make us drive on the right like Johnny Foreigner!!! OUTRAGE!!! LOL.Nick Durie</div> <div>Surely the #indyref should include the word ‘return’. Should Scotland RETURN to being an independent country.Alasdair Bremner</div> <div>(via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/YesDundee2014" class="">Yes Dundee</a>).YES to an Independent Scotland</div> <div>Nearly 800million people in more than 50 countries have left London Rule since 1945. Not a single one has asked to return. #IndyRef #VoteYesLook Aboot Ye</div> <div>Britain Must Break: The Internationalist Case for IndependenceThere should be no doubt that those of us who wish to see Scotland become an independent country in 2014 face an extraordinary task. The …</div> <div>Walking round Aberdeen, wondering where the oil money went. England perhaps? #bettertogether Like f**k!Robbie</div> <div>Alternative slogan for No campaign: "Pointless foreign wars for the foreseeable future." #YesScotGreg Moodie</div> <div>From the ‘How’ to the ‘Why’ of Scottish IndependenceGerry Hassan The Scotsman, October 29th 2011 Scottish independence was once viewed as an eccentric, maverick subject, something not to be…</div> <div>The small ship seems vulnerable because of its size, yet its size is its strength, as seafarers have known from coracle to sailing ship.Peter Curran</div> <div>From the banks of the Clyde, a poem for a new Scotland http://vimeo.com/43660079 #yesscot @nationalopinionChristie Williamson</div> <div>YES to an Independent Scotland</div> <p>

A Summary of the Anti-Independence Campaign and its Main Arguments

The Pro-Union / Anti-Independence campaign is called Better Together, and uses the #bettertogether hashtag. Here is a selection of websites, blog and social media posts and videos from the No Campaign.

[<a href="http://storify.com/TheDailySatire/yes-to-the-union-no-to-scottish-independence" target="_blank">View the story "Yes to the Union, No to Scottish Independence" on Storify</a>]</p> <h1>Yes to the Union, No to Scottish Independence</h1> <h2>A summary / digest featuring the highlights of the ‘Better Together’ campaign against Scottish Independence, featuring the best of the blogosphere, social media, websites, videos and pictures.</h2> <p>Storified by The Daily Satire · Sun, Nov 04 2012 10:04:06</p> <div>Better Together: The patriotic all-party and non-party campaign for Scotland in the UKIf you are one of the millions of Scots who agree that Scotland’s best future lies as a partner in the UK then help us by sharing our mes…</div> <div>SkintlandMissRachel2012</div> <div>Break-up ‘will cost Scots £140bn’: Warning on price of independence as just one third of Scots back changeMinisters are also considering asking a Royal Commission to investigate the implications of independence – including for the national deb…</div> <div>Why we are better togetherbettertogetheruk</div> <div>Scottish independence campaign caught using fake supporters (again)The Yes Scotland independence campaign headed by roly-poly Alex Salmond has tripped over its own feet again. Spinners have been caught ph…</div> <div>SNP’s abject failure to make #yesscot a cross-party campaign inspires their misinformation campaign to pretend #bettertogether isn’t either.Duncan Hothersall</div> <div>The most important thing I have learned in the last week is that there will be no BBC iplayer in an independent Scotland. #indyref #nothanksMichael Marra</div> <div>UK Bubble UK Economy: Scottish independence is a wretched idea riddled with inconsistencies and ironiesThe phrase "the country is falling apart" used to be uttered metaphorically by despairing old men. Today, it is literally true. Britain i…</div> <div>No pro NATO vote means Scottish Independence beyond reach, SNP members fighting to kill their own campaign, republican vision #indyref #SNPGeorge Laird</div> <div>Could Scottish independence upend your investments?What would Scottish Independence mean for your investments? It’s not something I’ve heard much discussed, even as the political accent ha…</div> <div>Strong, shocking, thought-provoking imagery from Alan Bissett in his #indyref poem "Vote Britain" @bellacaledonia http://wp.me/p93oK-1FCLesley Riddoch</div> <div>Why JK Rowling has not fallen under the separatists’ spellThe Harry Potter creator has already indicated she intends to vote No in Alex Salmond’s referendum in 2014. Yesterday Ms Rowling gave her…</div> <div>instead of this ridiculous #indyref in Scotland lets have #holyroodref lets close that abhorrent talking shop down and save £100m’s #no2snpDavie Tait</div> <div>SNP announce extra funds for student support. So those draconian Westminster cuts aren’t so bad after all then? #bettertogetherMurdo Fraser</div> <div>In Defence Of The UnionIt is the responsibility of any academic or author to clearly lay out one’s biases, be they the products of conscious deliberation, or a …</div> <div>@krisnimbley Because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Scotland stands taller as part of UK. #bettertogetherBritish Unity</div> <div>I’d vote NO to independence purely based on the fact that this idiot doesn’t seem to have any clue what he’s doing. Its like he’s just pulling out ideas from a hat and running with them! I’d be wary about giving him more power…Calum Gilligan</div> <div>English deserve their say on Scottish devolution plans, say experts – TelegraphThe referendum question will ultimately be assessed by the Electoral Commission, which made clear when the panel was set up that it would…</div> <div>Yes Scotland Better together Economically Aye sureNZwsKSLKq3uLPlFsYIgyTw</div> <div>Michael Kelly: No place in Nato without the nuclear option – Comment – Scotsman.comTHE transatlantic treaty is committed to nuclear weapons, so it is laughable to think we could join while opposing them, writes Michael K…</div> <div>RT @RuthDavidsonMSP I just signed the No Declaration! http://nodeclaration.wordpress.com/ #bettertogether #weakerapart #keepscotlandtoryRory Scothorne</div>

The State of Debate: Public Opinion Polls

There have been many polls over the year asking the people of Scotland whether or not they support Independence. The results of these polls tend to fluctuate quite a lot, showing that many people have not made a definite decision, but almost always show that there is no majority support for separation from the Union. One of the latest polls was conducted by YouGov, who found that 52% of people north of the border think that their country would be worse off financially if they left the union.

About the Author

Dean Walsh - Dean Walsh is the owner and editor of World News Curator. He also owns and runs Ourly News and a range of other online publications.

I suppose I need to begin by challenging the list of FACT you state before. For the most part these are assertions not facts. The principal points are where you wander into areas of International Treaty Law. Here I must refer you to the Vienna Convention on Treaty Law which has for the past 42 years underpinned treaty negotiations around the world particularly NATO and the EU. It is now well understood how the breakup of Unitary states generally proceeds, Denmark-Greenland, USSR, Czechoslovakia. The subsequent successor states are bound by the treaties of the defunct state. For example Kazakhstan was still bound by USSR-USA START treaty of the 1970′s with regards to nuclear weapons. This is the main reason it handed back all atomic weapons to Russia. Asserting that Scotland would be immediately outside ALL treaties is contradictory to all current understanding of treaty law. What about all the other treaty, extradition, slavery, copyright, anti-piracy, aviation? By the reasoning of your assertions none of these would apply to Scotland, an extreme position.
To extend this point in consideration of the North Sea resources, refer to the UN Treaty on the Law of the Sea. The UK government uses this treaty to mark out the sea territorial boundary between English and Scots Law. The rules used and clearly defined in the treaty guarantee Scots an “Exclusive Economic Zone” which does in fact cover about 92% of the known resources. To ignore this treaty the UK would cause international outrage unrelated to any sympathy for Scotland. Particularly with other European states and to such a level that future losses would more than out weigh any gains.
The rUK would lose international creditability and it’s ability to negotiate future treaties would be undermined. Really why do you think politicians abide by treaties, out of goodness, no it’s because they are forced.
I have worked for diplomatic agencies and can talk with some authority on these matters but on others I am as much a layman as anyone.